Pets--present and past.

SOFT SNOWBALL BREAST, TOOTHBRUSH-CLEAN, BRISTLES MAGNIFIED AGAINST THE LIGHT. MOCK FIGHT,WITH NO-CLAW PAW ON CHEEK OR NOSE OR HAIR. SO NEAR,ENGINE-PURRING SOFT AGAINST MY EAR. A FACE-VELVET SPACE WITHIN MY MIND- BRIGHT EYE,INKSPOT NOSE-A HARLEQUIN FACE- NO TRACE-OF BLACK AND YELLOW AND WHITE. TURN-AND,TAIL ERECT IN HOPE OF GREETING, FLEETING,PANTALOONED PISTONS PAD A TWO-INCH SPACE- A FEAT,NEAT,ON SHELF OR LEDGE-OR,GOING NOWHERE, MARK TIME ON MY KNEE,AS IF TO PLEDGE AFFECTION JUST TO ME. A TINY TEASE-BUT,PLEASE,MUCH MORE THAN THIS- A DREAM OF PLEASURE,A TREASURE FOR THE SOUL, BITTER,BLANK FROM WAR OF WORDS,A BALM,A BLESSING. TOUCH AND FEELING.WORTH AT LAST.MERE VANITY. WHO CARES THE REASON.NO MORE.ONLY DISILLUSION SORE, DEEP IN MY MIND,UNKIND,REINFORCED BY DEATH AND DANGER, PERSISTING INTO NIGHT OF ECHOES AND REFLECTIONS- ENGINE PURRING- YELLOW CAR,BLACK EARTH, WHITE ANGER.

JOSIE WAS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD WHEN SHE WAS KILLED BY A YELLOW CAR. SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE KITTEN WHO SEEMED TO BE FEARLESS BUT WAS VERY AFFECTIONATE.

COPPER WAS MINE. UNDER THE FIRE,BEYOND SAVAGERY, HIS SPIRIT GLOWED IN EYES OF JADE THAT SEARCHED AND FOUND MY SOUL. GENTLE THE BEAST THAT RESTED ON MY BREAST.

COPPER WAS MINE. HIS MEMORY, FRESH AND DEEP AS FOREST IN THE SPRING, INVADES MY MOOD OF DARKENING DAYS, TURNS IT TO THE GREENNESS OF HIS EYES, AND DAWN-DEW TEARS ARE DAMNED. COPPER WAS MINE. ALL FACETS OF HIM SPARKLE FOR ME NOW, HERE IN THE MIDNIGHT DARK. BLIND I AM TO SORROW, FOR I KNOW HIS EMBER-GLOW IS STILL. COPPER IS MINE.

COPPER WAS KILLED BY A CAR IN SEPTEMBER, 1989 WHEN HE WAS JUST 2 WEEKS SHORT OF HIS 2ND BIRTHDAY. HE WAS A VERY SPECIAL BOY IN APPEARANCE AND NATURE. HE HAD LONG GINGER AND WHITE FUR . HE CONSTANTLY GAVE AND NEEDED LOVE.

Thank you so much,Candlelight. Every time I lost one of my dear pets, I found I couldn't stop grieving till I had done the poem. Then the sorrow lifted. Strange.

SOPHIE’S SONG.

SHE WAS TINY. SHE WAS SMALL. SHE WASN’T VERY BIG AT ALL. BUT SHE WAS CLEVER. SHE WAS SMART. SHE KNEW JUST HOW TO TOUCH THE HEART. SHE WAS PRETTY, THERE’S NO DOUBT, FOR TOMS- THEY FOLLOWED HER ABOUT, THOUGH SHE LED THEM SUCH A DANCE, WITH HER COY, INVITING GLANCE. JOY SHE SHARED SO WILLINGLY WITH ANYONE WHO CAME TO SEE BABIES NESTLING AT HER BREAST. SHE WAS WELL AND TRULY BLESSED. SHE WAS BRAVE. SHE SHOWED NO FEAR. SO GOOD IT WAS TO HAVE HER NEAR. WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE SHE CAME? NOW SHE’S GONE, WHAT IS THE SAME?

Coco was a huge, long-haired, black and white puss with a very sweet nature. He passed of heart failure when he was only 11 years old. I sat with him for hours but he finally had to be put to sleep---a great sorrow to me as he was the 1st of my cats to pass.

WAITING.

BALMY ARE THE DAYS AND LONG, SUMMER DAYS WITHOUT A SONG. BLUE-BLACK EVENINGS, ONE ON ONE, EVER STRETCHING, EVER LONE. SLEEP, SLEEP, FADE AWAY, SLOWLY FADE WITH EACH NEW DAY, TAINTED BY THE PIERCING DART THAT SADNESS LEAVES WITHIN THE HEART, HEART THAT FALTERS IN THE BREAST, HEART THAT BREAKS, THAT HAS NO REST. NIGHTS DESCEND IN SHROUDS OF GREY. NEVER DAWNS THAT “BRIGHT NEW DAY”. OUT OF REACH ARE PLEASURES PAST. LIKE FLESH AND BLOOD, THEY DO NOT LAST. EYES, NOW DIM, HAVE LOST THEIR GLOW, EYES SEE ALL, AND TEARS FLOW. NOUGHT IN LIFE NOW JOY AFFORDS. LEADEN SORROW LOSES WORDS. NEW LIFE OF MAY- YOU ARE A LIE! MY COCO LIVES ONLY TO DIE. NO GRASS, NO BIRD UPON THE WING WILL PLEASURE TO HIM EVER BRING. HE WEAKENS, YET IS UNAWARE HOW MUCH, WITH HIM, I DAILY SHARE, WATCHING, WAITING TILL THE END, LOVING HIM, MY LITTLE FRIEND.

Fluffy was owned by my next door neighbour. She had thick, long fur of brown, ginger and white. She appeared at my bedroom window every night, got cuddles and left again. She also lost her life on the main road which is quite near to my house.

CUPBOARD LOVE. ( FOR FLUFFY, A FREQUENT VISITOR.)

THE CASEMENT ALLOWED HER INTO MY NIGHTTIME, HER COAT A BASKET OF MARIGOLDS AND DAISIES. HER TIME WAS THE SECRET DARKNESS AND SHE BROUGHT A WARMTH FROM OUT THE ICY MEADOW TO MY BED. HER EYES DID A GOLDEN DANCE FOR ME. SHE GAVE ME SILENCE AS A GIFT AND THE MEASURE OF HER LOVE. TO PLEASE ME SHE PRETENDED TO BE MINE AND WHEN SHE LEFT, I WEPT MY SECRET TEARS INTO THE EMPTY SHELL OF NIGHT.

The 1st day of my retirement was ruined by the passing of this beautiful, big long-haired cream and white boy. Yes------again, killed by a passing car.

A PARADOX CALLED PEPPER.

I REMEMBER EYES OF AMBER, COAT OF SEA-WASHED SAND, TAIL OF FOX, SNOWDRIFT SOCKS, WET NOSE IN MY HAND; PURRS AND SMILES, HUNTER‘S WILES, PRACTISED IN ALL WEATHERS, CROUCHING LOW, IN THE SNOW, BOUNDING THROUGH THE HEATHER.

OUTDOOR LAD, ALWAYS GLAD TO BE MINE- BUT FREE; ON THE RUN, JUST FOR FUN. WHAT ELSE SHOULD HE BE? LATE OR SOON, NIGHT OR NOON, WHEN IT WAS HIS WILL, AFTER THE CHASE, WITH WEARY FACE, HE‘D SIT UPON MY SILL.

CONTENT TO BE NEAR TO ME, ANSWERING MY CALL, .HE’D PRETEND HE COULDN’T FEND FOR HIMSELF AT ALL. CHEESE OR MEAT, AS A TREAT, HE’D TEASE FROM MY FINGERS. THEN, IN A TRICE, HE’D THINK OF MICE, AND NO WAY WOULD HE LINGER.

ACROSS THE FLOOR, TOWARDS THE DOOR, QUICKLY HE WOULD PAD, YET GLANCE AT ME SO GRATEFULLY FOR THE LOVE HE’D HAD. WELL I KNOW- AND YOU WOULD TOO- THE CALL THAT DREW HIM THEN. I HAD TO COPE, JUST LIVE IN HOPE I’D SEE MY BOY AGAIN.

THE LAST DAY CAME. IT SEEMED THE SAME AS OTHERS GONE BEFORE, BUT SOON I KNEW THIS WASN’T TRUE FOR HE’D COME HOME NO MORE. I’D THOUGHT HIM WISE TO DEATH’S DISGUISE UPON THAT CATWALK COLD, BUT REAPER REAPS AND MOURNER WEEPS-A TALE SO OFTEN TOLD.

NOW TIME HAS PASSED AND BROUGHT AT LAST ITS SOLACE IN SOME MEASURE, FOR NOW I FIND, DEEP IN MY MIND, A MEMORY TO TREASURE. LOVE NEVER DIES. THOSE AMBER EYES, FOR ME, WILL NEVER DIM, AND HE WILL WAIT, THERE AT THE GATE, TILL I CAN BE WITH HIM.

“GIPSY! GIPSY! GIPSY! , I CRIED, INTO THE DARKNESS, INTO THE RAIN, TO THE WINDSWEPT HEATHER BEYOND, AND THE SKY. DRAWN TO THE PLACES, LONELY AND WILD, WHERE MY LOST ONE DREAMED HER SECRET DREAMS, I SEARCHED. I DID. I TRIED.

“GIPSY! GIPSY! GIPSY! , “ I SIGHED, “ARE YOU LOST? ALONE? IN PAIN? COME TO ME NOW AS YOU DID BEFORE, WHEN I THOUGHT YOUR FACE , WHEN I CALLED YOUR NAME BUT SILENCE MOCKED MY BITTER TEARS, AND EMPTINESS FILLED MY MIND.

“GIPSY! GIPSY! GIPSY! “, I SCREAMED, PRESSURE PUMPING BEHIND MY EYES. QUESTIONS, IMAGES, BROKEN THREADS, TANGLED AGONY- MINE AGAIN. JIGSAW PIECES, SHATTERED GLASS, FRAGMENTS PIERCING WHEN I DREAMED. “GIPSY, GIPSY, GIPSY,” I BREATHE, QUIETLY NOW THAT HOPE IS VAIN. TIGER STRIPES IN VELVET BLACK, SHADOWS ONLY STILL REMAIN. SHADOWS, MEMORIES OF AIR, THE TAPESTRY OF THOUGHTS I WEAVE. GIPSY, ROMANY, WANDERER FREE, SILHOUETTE BEYOND LIFE’S PANE, MY BECKONING MIND STILL CALLS YOU HOME, OUT OF THE WIND, OUT OF THE RAIN, AWAY FROM DANGER, AWAY FROM STORM, AS THE WIDOW, THE SAILOR FROM THE SEA. BUT, GIPSY, NOW I CALL NO MORE, FOR IT WOULD ONLY BE MY SHAME. LOVE IS SELFISH WHEN IT PINES TO BRING A LOVED ONE BACK AGAIN. WHAT THOUGH I BE CAGED IN GRIEF? YOU SIT AT AN OPEN DOOR.

Waiting for inspiration, I know what you mean. It's the same with me, I can't just sit down and write, but when the feeling comes over me it's compulsive, so if I'm somewhere like the bus where I can't write it's a pity because the words are lost.

A gentle whisper like the breeze sighing, so easy to miss, listen carefully...

SOMETHING WHISPERS IN MY EAR, SHADOWS ECHO ALL MY FEAR. TODAY I HAVE TO PASS A TEST. TODAY MY MIND WILL FIND NO REST. AND SO, IT COMES FOR ME ‘E’RE DARK, THE TRAUMA KEEN, THE TRIAL STARK.

I HEAR A VOICE, A ROBOT’S VOICE, REPEATING WORDS HE’S LEARNED BY CHOICE. “HE’S NEAR THE END. YOU MUST BE KIND. HELP HIM TO DIE, HIS PEACE TO FIND.” NOW I KNOW WHAT I HAVE FELT- THE HAND TO ME THAT FATE HAS DEALT.

IT'S MY DECISION, MINE ALONE. I REACH FOR HIM;MY HEART'S A STONE. AND,TREMBLING NOW, I CUP MY HANDS AROUND HIS HEAD UNTIL THE SANDS OF HIS DEAR LIFE HAVE RUN AWAY AND HE IS GONE. ALL IS DECAY.

SOON THERE’S GUILT AS WELL AS GRIEF AND YET I SHARE IN HIS RELIEF FOR, AS THE HOURS PASS SLOWLY BY, A PICTURE FORMS BEHIND MY EYES. I RECALL HIS KITTENHOOD- AND IT WAS CAREFREE; IT WAS GOOD. AS HE USED TO BE, MY SKIPPER WOULD OFT’ CURL UP INSIDE MY SLIPPER AND WHEN I’D COME TO FIND THE PAIR, HE’D GIVE THAT IMPISH , ONE-EYED STARE WHICH SAID TO ME, “COME ON, THEN. PLAY! IF NOT, I’LL STAY HERE, IF I MAY!”

SKIPPER WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY. HE WAS NOT JUST ANY BOY FOR HE WAS WHITE, LIKE FALLING SNOW WITH COAL-BLACK TAIL, I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW! HIS NAME WAS CHOSEN WITH DUE THOUGHT TO HOW HE JUMPED AND PRANCED AND SOUGHT TO HOLD MY INTEREST, CATCH MY EYE WHEN HE WAS JUST A LITTLE GUY! HE GREW TO BE THE “TOP CAT” HERE, A PLACE HE HELD FOR THIRTEEN YEARS. STOCKY, TOUGH, A REAL TOM CAT- I THINK HE WAS QUITE PROUD OF THAT!

THO’ NOW, OF LATE, TIME HAD BEGUN TO ROB HIM OF HIS LOVE OF FUN, STILL, SOMETIMES HE WOULD FLICK A BALL AS IF TO SAY, “I’LL SHOW ‘EM ALL!” FULL OF MISCHIEF TO THE BRIM- AND THAT’S HOW I’LL REMEMBER HIM.

Thank you, Candlelight. I've been told that many times but as yet haven't bothered. Most of my poems are about sad occasions cos that's when I feel inspired so maybe I'd need to write some cheerful ones to get the balance right. We'll see.

FUDGE! HE WAS A HANDSOME CAT. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT OF THAT. SLEEK AND STATELY, LONG OF LIMB, EVERYONE ADMIRED HIM. EYES OF AMBER, COAT OF CREAM, ANY LADY *****’S DREAM. YET A COMPLEX FELINE, HE, FIERCE WITH CATS BUT SWEET WITH ME. THE OTHER CATS WHOSE HOME HE SHARED OFTEN MET HIM WITH FANGS BARED FOR HE WOULD DARE TO POUNCE AT WILL ON THEM! AND WHY? JUST FOR THE THRILL OF WITNESSING THEIR SUDDEN FEAR AND EYEING A RETREATING REAR! FROM HIS VERY KITTENHOOD, HE STROVE TO DO ALL THAT HE COULD TO BE THE KING, THE TRUE TOP CAT, BUT BANDIT WOULD HAVE NONE OF THAT AND SO THE CREAM BOY AND THE BLACK WOULD ALWAYS END UP IN A SCRAP. THEY WERE NOT PALS BUT DEADLY FOES. ENCOUNTERS CAME TO WAR-LIKE BLOWS WITH SCRATCH ON NOSE OR BITE ON EAR, ALL JUST BECAUSE ONE CAME TOO NEAR. BUT FUDGE HAS LATELY LEFT THE SCENE. HE’S NOT WHERE HE’S ALWAYS BEEN. SO, I DWELL ON THE GENTLENESS HE SHOWED TO ME- FOR I WAS BLESSED TO KNOW HIS PLEASURE AT MY TOUCH I STILL CAN HEAR HIM LOUDLY PURR AS I CARESSED HIS HONEY FUR. SOFTLY HE WOULD CROON TO ME TO LET ME KNOW, TO LET ME SEE, TO SHOW THE COMPASS OF HIS PLEASURE AND THIS SOUND I SHALL ALWAYS TREASURE.

LOST TO ME IS DUSTY, MY SMOKE-GREY LITTLE ONE. GONE IS ALL THE LOVING, GONE IS ALL THE FUN. PAST IS ALL THE PLEASURE HE DID ME AFFORD, PAST, THE LIVING HOURS, CUT, THE SILVER CORD. THO’ HIS CROSS WAS DEAFNESS, HE DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND. WHEN HE NEEDED STROKING, HE MANAGED ME TO FIND. WATCHFUL, QUICK AND TWINKLING, HIS GREEN EYES SOUGHT ME OUT AND, LIKE A LITTLE PUPPY, HE FOLLOWED ME ABOUT. CROUCHING AT A WINDOW OR WAITING NEAR A DOOR, WHEN IT CAME TO CUDDLES, HE ALWAYS CRAVED SOME MORE. GUILT AND GRIEF ARE PARTNERS. THEY GO HAND IN HAND, BUT IN THE DEATH OF DUSTY, ‘TWAS GUILT THAT TOOK COMMAND. “JUST A SIMPLE MATTER,” THEY SAID TO ME THAT DAY, “AND HE’LL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.” BUT NO!- HE PINED AWAY. TOO MUCH ANAESTHETIC FOR HIS DEAR OLD HEART. IGNORANCE THE CULPRIT, AND SO WE HAD TO PART. WITH MY WEE CAT, DUSTY, I SHARED A SPECIAL BOND. I UNDERSTOOD HIS BURDEN AND IN THE GREAT BEYOND, WHEREVER DUSTY’S GONE TO, I HOPE HE’S FOUND A PAL. I HOPE HE’S LOST HIS DEAFNESS. I HOPE THAT- MOST OF ALL.

KISMET CAME FROM O’ER THE SEA. FROM THAT ISLE HE CAME TO ME, THAT ISLAND I HAD NEVER SEEN, THO’ NEAR TO WHERE I’VE ALWAYS BEEN. IN MANY WAYS A FLIGHTY CAT, BUT LOVING TOO IN SPITE OF THAT. COAT OF MUSHROOM LACED WITH CREAM, SOMETIMES GENTLE,SOMETIMES MEAN. BUT LOVE HE ALWAYS HAD GALORE. I HAD ENOUGH OF THAT IN STORE, FOR HIM , MY ARMFUL OF A PET, HUGE AND HEAVY- I HOLD HIM YET.

PERCHED HIGH ON THE LOFTY TOWER, OR LYING IN A GRASSY BOWER, HE WOULD TAKE HIS EASEMENT THERE, IN WEATHER FOUL, IN WEATHER FAIR, OR AT THE MILK DISH, IN A DAZE, HE’D SIT AND THROUGH THE WINDOW GAZE. FOR QUITE SOME TIME HE’D HAVE A THINK BUT OTHER CATS COULD HAVE NO DRINK! WHILE HE SAT THERE TO MEDITATE, A QUEUE OF CATS WOULD DEHYDRATE! NOT ONE WOULD RISK A FORWARD PACE OR CHALLENGE KISMET FACE TO FACE, FOR KISMET HAD A SHORTISH FUSE AND HE COULD BE- WELL- “NOT AMUSED”!

TO GET HIM TO THE VET’S WAS DIRE FOR THEN HE’D SHOW US HIS TRUE FIRE. TWO OF US WERE NEEDED THEN, YES, TWO- AND THEY WERE TWO GROWN MEN, WITH GLOVES HIS ANGER TO COMBAT. WHAT A TIGER! WHAT A CAT! WITH FANGS AND CLAWS, HIS EARS PRESSED FLAT, READY FOR THEIR MOVE , HE SAT!

I THINK THIS LED TO HIS SAD FATE FOR OFTEN WE WOULD HESITATE TO PICK HIM UP AND SHOW HIM MASTER, WHICH SICKNESS CAN TURN TO DISASTER. WE’RE SORRY NOW WE MADE HIM WAIT FOR HELP WHICH CAME- ALAS! TOO LATE. NO-ONE KNOWS WHAT LAID HIM LOW. HIGH FEVER SEEMED TO BE THE FOE. FAR FROM HOME AND IN A CAGE, HIS FINAL BATTLE HE DID WAGE BY MORNING HE HAD LOST THE FIGHT, PASSING SOFTLY IN THE NIGHT. POPPET WAS HIS FAVOURITE MATE, WITH HER HE’D DEIGN TO SHARE HIS PLATE. THEY PLAYED AND FROLICKED WHILE STILL YOUNG AND HE WOULD GROOM HER WITH HIS TONGUE. SHE’LL MISS HIM SORELY, AS SHALL I , BUT HOPE TO SEE HIM BY AND BY.

Amber's poem is written in the dialect of Orkney so you may not understand all the words!!!! She was an all-ginger female which is fairly rare in the cat world.

FULL CIRCLE.

DON’T ASK ME WHY THIS DITTY IN DIALECT IS WRIT, BUT ORKNEY WORDS AND PHRASES- WEEL, THEY JUST SEEMED TAE FIT, FIR AMBER CAM FAE DEERNESS, A PEEDIE, PEEDIE MITE. I NIVER SA’ A SMALLER- NO BREADTH, NO LENGTH, NO HEIGHT! I MIND THE DAY I GOT HER. BOEY! DAE I MIND THAT DAY! FIR ON THE WEY TAE ME HOOSE, SHE’D “DONE IT” IN THE HEY THAT HID BEEN PIT AROOND HER TAE MAK’ HER FEEL AAL RIGHT. AND WIS SHE SMELLIN’ SWEETLY? WEEL, I WID SAY, “NO QUITE!” I PLUMPED HER IN ME SINK THEN AND SET TAE WI’ ME HANDS. I RUBBED AND SCRUBBED AND DRIED AND SOON SHE WIS SPICK AN’ SPAN. FAE THE FIRST DAY THAT I HID HER, SHE NIVER WIS THE NORM SHE WIS AYE SAE DIFFERENT FAE THE DAY THAT SHE WIS BORN. AAL THE CATS THAT I HID HAD TOYS STREWN ON THE MAT BUT NO WUR PEEDIE AMBER. SHE HID NO TIME FIR THAT. A PING-PONG BALL WIS USELESS AND SO A FURRY MOOSE, BUT FLING HER AN OWLD PEN-TOP AND THEN JUST LET HER LOOSE WHIT A FUN SHE THOWT THAT, THROWING HID ABOOT, BITIN’, FLICKIN’, CATCHIN’. TAE WATCH HER WIS A HOOT! MONY A PEN WIS TOPLESS IN ME HOOSE AT THAT TIME BUT ACH, HID DIDNA METTER. THIS PEEDIE THING WIS MINE. NOO, TIME-AS EVER- PASSES AND SHE BEGAN TAE GROWE FIR SHE DID LITTLE ITHER THAN CHOW AND CHOW AND CHOW! YE KEN ABOOT THE ACORN THAT TURNED INTAE AN OAK- WEEL- HID WIS LIKE WUR AMBER. WHIT A SIZE SHE GOT! HER BELLY WIS NEAR SCRAPIN’ ON THE VERY GRUND FIR SHE WIS ALWAYS SCOFFIN’ EVERYTHING SHE FUND! HER EYES WERE NEARLY BIGGER THAN HER GINGER HEED AND BOTH OF THEM AYE LUCKIN’ FIR ANITHER FEED. HER LEGS WERE SHORT AND STUBBY- THE BITS THAT YOU COULD SEE- AND SOON SHE WIS TOO HEAVY TAE JUMP UP ON ME KNEE! YE’VE HEARD O’ “PLUMP” AND “CHUBBY” . WEEL SHE WIS NONE O’ THAT. AMBER WIS A BIG GIRL. AMBER WIS JUST FAT!! BUT SHE WIS GENTLE WI’ IT AND QUIET AS A MOOSE. IN FACT YE OFTEN DIDNA KEN SHE WIS ABOOT THE HOOSE. AND, OCH, I MISS ME AMBER, ME BIG, RED-GINGER LASS FIR NOO SHE IS A-SLEEPIN’ UNDER ORKNEY GRASS. FETH, I LOVED HER DEARLY. TAE ME SHE WIS A QUEEN. SHE STILL PLUCKS AT ME HEART STRINGS WHAUREVER SHE HIS GEEN. SHE GOT INSIDE ME HEART AAL RIGHT. SHE GOT INSIDE O’ THAT FIR SHE WIS MORE TAE CUDDLE. SHE WIS JUST MORE CAT! SHE WIS NIVER NOISY. SHE NIVER CAUSED ME STRIFE. SHE GIED ENORMOUS PLEASURE TAE ME IN ME LIFE. SILENTLY SHE LINGERS EVEN STILL THE DAY, QUIET IN HER LIFETIME AND NOO SHE’S GEEN AWAY. EVEN AT THE ENDING MUTED WIS HER BREATH. NOISELESS WIS HER PASSING; WHISPERED WIS HER DEATH.

Very moving, Feather. And 17 and a half is a rare ol age to reach. I'm sure Stardust would have loved to read this also. I still hold a little sprinkling of hope that perhaps from time to time she does look in on us and knows that she's still very much in our thoughts.

When I get to the other side, I'll see all my dogs again. Gonna go mad, all of us together, we'll dance round and jump on one another like wild things, and then we're gonna run, run, run... and laugh gleefully at the huge pleasure of it all. Best of all my lovely Alsatian who saved my life and has such a special place in my heart. I can't wait...

A gentle whisper like the breeze sighing, so easy to miss, listen carefully...

Golly, Feather, I only just now read back through the thread and saw your poem for Zoe. You have such a way with words and they make me feel so sad. But just think of all your cats now together, they won't be lonely.

A gentle whisper like the breeze sighing, so easy to miss, listen carefully...

WHEN TANSY FIRST CAME HOME TO ME, A TINY, TORTIE TEASE WAS SHE. SHE WAS NOT SHY, NOR OVER-BOLD BUT PERFECT FOR MY ARMS TO HOLD. SHE TOOK NO TIME TO SETTLE HERE, SHE WAS CONTENT. SHE SHOWED NO FEAR. AFFECTIONATE AND VOCAL TOO, SHE’D LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO, FOR, LIKE A PUPPY, SHE WOULD BEG, SITTING UP ON TWO HIND LEGS, WAITING PATIENTLY IN HOPE OF LOVING TOUCH, OF GENTLE STROKE. AND YET ANOTHER LITTLE THING SHE’D DO TO MAKE MY OLD HEART SING, FOR SHE WOULD TOUCH MY NOSE WITH HERS, IN FELINE KISS , WITH MANY PURRS.

BUT EARTHLY JOYS-THEY DO NOT LAST, THEY FADE FROM PRESENT INTO PAST. TIME IS MASTER OF OUR FATE, HE DOES NOT LINGER, DOES NOT WAIT. HE CLAIMS AGAIN WHAT HE HAS LENT, HIS PLEASURES ARE NOT PERMANENT. THEY’RE MERELY BORROWED FOR A SPELL AS THOSE WHO GRIEVE DO KNOW SO WELL. TANSY HAS GONE ON ALONE, TO HER NEW LIFE, TO HER NEW HOME. A LONGING OFT’ COMES OVER ME FOR SOMETHING LOVED I CANNOT SEE, YET TANSY’S WHERE SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN FOR HER MEMORY IS EVERGREEN. FOR TANSY---PUT TO SLEEP ON 15TH AUGUST, 2008, AGED 19 YEARS, 3 MONTHS.

That is so touching, Feather. Another lovely memorial. I really think you should put them all together and have them published. Maybe one day ... ?

I've been searching through the forum, trying to find the video of the two cats talking to each other. Do you remember it? Can't find it though. I thought it was in the animals thread, went in there and got so entranced with all the wonderful posts in there

Thank you for reading the poem, Candlelight. I'm glad you like it. I can't remember anything about 2 cats talking to each other-but my memory is not to go by these days. If you knew who posted it, you could go to their profile and click on "all posts by--". No doubt you know this already. I'm off to bed so I'll wish you a peaceful---

Have you found the talking cats yet, Candlelight? I found it on youtube--the version with the translation is the best. Thing is I don't know what is legal to do with it. Don't think I'm allowed to up/down??load it.

Aw, poor rainbows! I feel sooooo sorry for you----NOT!! Enjoy!! Just remember you have a car to park and legs that can walk. You are blessed. Mingle joyfully with Humanity and spend, spend, spend!! Good Luck.xxx.

you are quite right -my feet ached but i have feet-as for my car-well its a car im grateful to have but getting on a bit not sure if i'll get another year out of it but today ive got one so thats what matters. The crowds were big,took me 40 mins to get out of the carpark but neil diamond kept me happy.

Wrapped almost all pressies now , first year ive put them under the tree[i dont think boyo will open them !i hope not..]usually put them under eve when all asleep so i'll let you know if the pressies survive.

Im afraid i didnt mingle with the crowds joyfully,too much squeezing past everybody but we're all in the same boat but i wasnt grumpy either unlike some who grumbled at people when accidentally touched-it cant be helped , people so moody sometimes!

I finally have batteries , will put them in my camera and show you some chrissie photos soon.

Good morning, Happy Shopper! Glad you got pressies sorted. That'll be a great relief to you. I remember what it was like--so many moons ago. I must say that, for me, the magic has all but disappeared since my sons became adults. My Mum was the centre of the whole family's Christmas, both when my brother and I were kids and on until we had kids of our own. When she passed, things changed irrevocably----but I still try to enter into the spirit of things. At least I won't be on my own. One of my sons, Leigh, runs a pub/restaurant with his partner a few miles down the road from my house. The place will be shut to the public but family are invited for Xmas dinner on the evening of Xmas Day, my friend, Rosina and my other son, Ray, included. There will be about 10 of us and we're in for a slapup meal. I'm very lucky really.

Feather, I'd love for you to see my puddytats. I had piccies of them on my mobile phone, but that's the one that got ruined (fell in the cats' water bowl actually!) - and I don't have a digital thingamejig (camera) and even if I had - wouldn't know how to use it to get piccies up on comp ...

Hopefully, one day you can meet them for real. I'm gonna be a lot more organised in this coming year than I have been this past year. Not been a very good year for me what with one thing and another - but I'm happy to say that only in the past week most of my troubles have been sorted one way or another and it's only now that I'm able to say that I actually feel human again I can get back to being ME now. Roll on 2009 - I'm more than ready for ya!